Genetic architecture of grain yield and yield attributing traits in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)

The combining ability studies for 13 characters in pearl millet were carried out in half diallel crosses of eight diverse lines. General as well as specific combining ability variances were significant for all the characters except earhead girth and dry fodder yield per plant, respectively. The gca : sca variance ratio indicated the preponderance of additive genetic variance for plant height, number of grains per square cm, dry fodder yield per plant and harvest index, whereas non-additive genetic variance for days to flowering, days to anthesis, days to maturity, number of effective tillers per plant, earhead length, earhead girth, earhead weight and grain yield per plant, while both the variances were equally important for 1000-grain weight. The parent J-2340 was found to be good general combiner for days to anthesis, earhead weight, grain yield per plant, 1000-grain weight and harvest index. Likewise, the parent J-2454 was a good general combiner for days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of grains per square cm and 1000-grain weight. While the parent J-2495 was a good general combiner for days to maturity, earhead weight, grain yield per plant and harvest index. While the parent J-2480 was a good general combiner for days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height and number of grains per square cm. The three hybrids J-2454 x J-2340, 253-SB-07 x J-2495 and 276-SB-07 x J-2480 were found promising ones on the basis of per se performance, heterobeltiosis and sca effects, which could be exploited commercially for heterosis breeding in pearl millet.